# PaddleOCR-VL

1B-parameter document parsing VLM (NaViT encoder + ERNIE-4.5-0.3B). PaddleOCR-VL is free, with no paid plan attached, at github.com.

## Facts

- **Pricing tier:** Free
- **Works on:** Self-hosted, Web, API
- **Works in browser:** Yes

## Capabilities

- 1B-parameter document parsing VLM (NaViT encoder + ERNIE-4.5-0.3B)
- Handles text, tables, formulas, charts and handwriting
- Supports 109 languages including Hindi and Arabic
- Apache 2.0; newer PaddleOCR-VL-1.6 available

## FAQ

### What is PaddleOCR-VL?

PaddleOCR-VL is listed under AI OCR & Document Extraction, in the Research & Learning category on Flocci AI Tools. 1B-parameter document parsing VLM (NaViT encoder + ERNIE-4.5-0.3B). It is free, with no paid plan attached, and it lives at github.com.

### Is PaddleOCR-VL free?

PaddleOCR-VL is listed as fully free — there is no paid tier attached to it in the catalog. That makes it one of the 397 entries on Flocci AI Tools with no upgrade path built in.

### Can I use PaddleOCR-VL in a browser, or is there an app?

PaddleOCR-VL works in a normal browser tab with no install. It is available on self-hosting, the web and an API.

### What can PaddleOCR-VL do?

PaddleOCR-VL does 4 things the catalog singles out: 1b-parameter document parsing vlm (navit encoder + ernie-4.5-0.3b); handles text, tables, formulas, charts and handwriting; supports 109 languages including hindi and arabic; apache 2.0; newer paddleocr-vl-1.6 available.

### What is the best free alternative to PaddleOCR-VL?

dots.ocr (dots.mocr) is the closest free alternative: it sits in the same AI OCR & Document Extraction sub-category and is free. LangExtract (Google), MinerU and olmOCR also start free. The full list is on the alternatives page.

## Related

- [PaddleOCR-VL alternatives](https://aitools.flocci.in/alternatives/paddleocr-vl)
- [AI OCR & Document Extraction](https://aitools.flocci.in/category/research-learning/ai-ocr-document-extraction)
- [Best free AI OCR and document extraction tools](https://aitools.flocci.in/best/best-ai-ocr-document-extraction)
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Source: Flocci AI Tools — https://aitools.flocci.in/tool/paddleocr-vl

Facts last verified: October 2026